Passport2Purity - A FlyBy Promotions Review

Honestly, I just don't want to think about this right now.  We're literally just three years off from having yet ANOTHER teenage girl in our charge.  Just in case you haven't already heard the hubby and I have already ushered FIVE girls into adulthood, and it didn't resemble the Brady Bunch.  It was a bit more like Roseanne.  In fact, we almost threw a celebratory party when we learned Avery was a boy.  Seriously!

Neither of us have ever been known for doing things the easy way, so I'm sure none of our parenting hurdles have come to any type of surprise to anyone.  I mean who blends together two families consisting of four girls nearly all the same age just at the onset of puberty?  Well, us.  That's who!  Apparently we like a challenge.

Today marks Harmony's 10th birthday.  It was a monumental year in our family.  After nine years of uh-hem "courtship" (aka playing house) we officially joined together in holy matrimony.  My father passed away in April, Harmony (our first grandchild) was born in July, and we married in September.  There was a lot going on in our lives.  Things really haven't changed since then.  It's always something, or rather a lot of somethings.

With all the unique challenges we face in our life I am more than grateful for the products that are created that help us with the tough things we face.  Passport2Purity by Dennis & Barbara Rainey is a tool that gives me a little more confidence knowing I have it tucked in my back pocket.  I'm not sure there are too many parents that get excited about the tough topics of conversation that we need to face as our children begin traveling the turbulent waters of adolescents.

Fortunately, we've had some experience in this regard.  At least we know a little of what to expect.  I mean, we're not so lucky as to have the assurance of predictability, but at least we have learned that open dialogue is essential, and relationship is key.  Passport2Purity is a foundational tool that opens the doors to the tough topics of the challenges our children face in the years ahead.  It doesn't take too much effort to see that at least some of the hurdles are different for them than they were for us.  We live in an age of sexting, bullying, online stalking, and moral defiance.  Sometimes we may wonder if there is even such a thing as innocence in today's culture.

Passport2Purity is designed as a combined listening experience that facilitates the tough, heart to heart conversations that need to take place between parents and their budding adolescents.  There are object lessons and guided conversations all packaged up nicely in a Passport2Purity weekend getaway.

About the Getaway Kit:

1 - tour guide for the parent

1 - travel journal for the pretten including 25 follow-up devotions

8 - CDs containing 5 sessions, scripture memory songs and downloadable MP3s

Session 1 - BEGINNING THE JOURNEY - Challenges, Traps, and Choices

Session 2 - RUNNING WITH THE HERD - Friendships and Peer Pressure

Session 3 -  READY FOR AN UPGRADE? - Changes in Him, Changes in Her

Session 4 - DESTINATION: LE PURE - Setting Boundaries

Session 5 -  CROSSING THE DATE LINE - Seeing Dating Differently

Your child begins the journey into adolescence in a world of sexting, bullying, online stalking and moral defiance.  Innocence is under attack, and you cannot win the battle with a single awkward talk or a strict set of rules.  The primary defense for your child is a strong relationship with you and with God.  FamilyLife developed Passport2Purity (P2P) to assist you in building heart-to-heart communication with your preteen while laying a foundation of purity that will prepare him or her for the turbulent years ahead.  Through the shared listening experience, object lessons and guided conversations of a P2P weekend getaway, you can set your son or daughter on a journey of moral integrity - and strengthen the bond between you.  It is designed to be used by a mother and daughter or a father and son when the child is a preteen.  It is suggested that the materials be completed over a weekend away from home, as the child may be more open to discussing the topics away from his or her normal environment.  If this isn't possible, the material can be completed over a period of four or five weeks.

Social Corner:

Official Website

Facebook

Twitter

Especially for my readers:  Receive 25% off your purchase using the code PASSPORT on their website.  Discount is good through August 31, 2015.

The Old Fashioned Way - A FlyBy Promotions Book Review & Giveaway

Earlier this month I shared with you a review of the DVD Old Fashioned and asked you to stay tuned for an awesome giveaway.  Well, the time has come.  Are you ready?  This is an awesome giveaway, and you could be the winner!

In addition to the DVD there are two books associated with the movie.  There is a novelization of the movie under the same title written by the author Rene Gutteridge based on the screenplay by Rik Swartzwelder.  Also available is a devotional titled The Old Fashioned Way: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Romance written by Ginger Kolbaba based on the same screenplay.  These three resources are put together in one nice little package and are a wonderful resource for anyone with a concern for the dating scene, modern romance, old traditions, pure lifestyle, and redemption.

Very few of us in today's society grew up with traditional values.  We dated.  We didn't court.  It's possible we don't even know what chivalry is or even have a clue what the traditional roles of man and women were just a couple of generations ago.  The books based on the screenplay help us to take this journey of discovery just a little further.  When you've finished the movie you will likely find yourself pondering over a lot of thoughts and questions.  The Old Fashioned Way is a 40 day devotional written to help you take these thoughts and questions to the next level.  Just like the movies some things may seem very foreign or strange, but the devotional helps us to sort those ideas out for ourselves.

If I had it to do over again, I would have read the book first.  That's just my personal preference.  I think it would be wonderful to do with a group or a book club.  Read the book, watch the movie, and then work through the devotional.  I have felt a gentle prodding in the area of family ministry.  Learning about every aspect of relationships of all sorts and how they work, or don't work, fascinates me.  I feel this would be wonderful for churches to have on hand as part of their available resources in a lending library or something of the sort.  There is lots to learn here and lots to think about.

Softcover - 303 pages

"Turning his back on his reckless lifestyle, former frat boy Clay Walsh has settled down to turn an antique shop in a small Midwestern college town....and to purse lofty and outdated theories on love and romance.  But when Amber Hewson, a free-spirited woman with a gypsy soul, rents the apartment above his shop, Clay can't help being attracted to her spontaneous and passionate embrace of life.  Amber also finds herself surprisingly drawn to Clay, but his ideas about relationships are unusual to say the least, and they bring to light her own deep wounds and fears about love.  They say opposites attract, but can Clay and Amber move beyond their differences and their pasts to attempt an "old fashioned" courtship?"

Softcover - 222 pages

"Contrary to popular opinion, being "old fashioned" doesn't mean you're dull or unromantic.  In fact, a true old fashioned relationship can be more exciting and romantic than anything you've ever experienced!  So what does it mean to do things the old fashioned way?  Sure, it means opening doors, holding out chairs, and taking things slow.  But a true old fashioned romance goes much, much deeper than that.  Inspired by the motion picture Old Fashioned, this book will show you how to reclaim the lost art of romance by introducing you to romantic love as God intended it.  Regardless of your past mistakes, where you've been, what you've done, or where you are now, you can find and create a love that will last a lifetime!  As you work your way through this forty-day journey of inspiring readings and questions for reflection, you'll discover all the unique and amazing benefits of doing things the old fashioned way.  And before you know it, you'll be well on your way to creating a love story for the ages." 

S O C I A L • C O R N E R

Official Website

Facebook

Twitter: @OldFashionedVow

Trailer

Official Website to Purchase

If you'd like to enter for your chance to win this awesome giveaway package, just leave me a comment below.  Make sure you comment with an i.d. that I can use to contact you in the even that you win.  I've had a few this year that have won, but I was unable to contact them and had to choose someone else.  Don't miss out!

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Creative Date Ideas

As I mentioned previously, Pat and I attended a marriage commitment weekend through our church organization this month. There were many things discussed, taught and shared. Over time I plan to share some of the resources and information with you. I think this is a good way to start. Here are some ideas to help you in spending quality time together:

Ideas for Creative Dates

• Pick up a book of local walks and choose one where you have never been before.
• Take a day course together and learn to do something new like make stained glass, fix car engines, paint watercolor, make baskets, cook a cultural meal, etc.
• Go out to eat changing restaurants for each course.
• Meet in the park with a packed lunch. Pretend you've never met before, and spend time getting to know each other while you feed the ducks.
• Go to a place where there are street performers, and enjoy the show.
• Try a new type of restaurant that you never before have explored like Thai, Cantonese, Tuscany, Vegetarian, Polish, etc.
• Share a spa day together.
• Visit a card shop. Read the funny cards together. Choose one that you would like to give to the other person, and either share it there or buy them and take them home.
• Charter a boat for an hour or two. Take a picnic lunch and a book of poetry or a humorous book about marriage.
• Take a blanket to the top of a hill. Lie on your backs and view the night sky. Bring along a book of constellations so that you can try to locate them. Take a thermos of hot cocoa or soup to share together. You might even see some shooting stars!
• Learn to ice-skate together, try go-karting, or buy a kite and fly it together.
• Find a free concert to attend or special evening at the museum.
• Visit a cathedral together and ask for the children's guide to the building. They often give a lot of unusual facts about the building and interesting details to look for. Stay for evensong for a peaceful and ethereal experience. Enjoy a meal in the cathedral cafe', or a nearby restaurant.
• Go out for dessert and coffee. Take your time, and enjoy the experience savoring your treat and your conversation with each other.
  

Ideas for Evenings Indoors

• Choose a menu together and cook a meal for two at home. Try cooking an Indian meal and serve it wearing an improvised sari, or a Japanese meal, to eat sitting on floor cushions around a low table. Find some music to suit the culture and enjoy the evening. If cooking's too much for you order takout. You could even watch a relevant film or play regional music to add to the mood.
  
• Compile a list of videos you'd both like to see together so you know which ones to rent when you have the opportunity. Don't forget the popcorn!
• Play your favorite childhood board games.
• Surf the Internet together for ideas for your next outing or holiday.
• Find or buy some crayons and drawing paper and have a go at drawing each other's portrait.
• Buy some child's modeling clay and try to sculpt a model of each other's head.
• Find a piece of old furniture that needs refinishing and remodel it together, or finish an unfinished piece of wood furniture giving it your personal touch. Sign and date your creation.
• Share five special memories you each have about your relationship and five special hopes or plans for the future.
• Borrow a book about massage from the library and learn how to give each other a massage with fragrant aromatherapy oils.
• Find a modern Bible and read the Song of Solomon to each other. You may be surprised at what you find!
• Make a scrapbook of memorabilia of your fun times together. Jot notes of ideas for more fun times together in a notebook so that you're never short of new ways to have fun.
• Make something nice to drink like lemonade or hot cocoa, depending on the season, and curl up with old photo albums or family films.

With a little time and thought you can begin to put some of the fun of dating back into your marriage. Try these ideas out for size:

• Think about the things you did together for fun before you were married.
• Think about the things that you always wanted to do but never had the time or the opportunity to try.
• Write a list of 10 places you'd like to go or things you'd like to do on a date together. Swap lists with each other and see what you've each written. Take turns choosing a date idea from you spouse's list. Keep adding new ideas to the list.
• Do all you can to make the dating occasion enjoyable, even if it is not the sort of thing you'd normally do. Focus on your spouse's enjoyment and find little ways to add delight and surprises to the experience, such as secretly buying him or her a special souvenir that they said they liked, or finding a new place to eat lunch, or meeting them with a bunch of flowers.
• At the end of each date, make sure you know when and where the next date will be. Looking forward to something is half the fun!
• Have a list of fun things to do at home too for those times when you don't feel like going out or when you cannot get a babysitter.